Studies warn of abrupt environmental effects of warming

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Studies warn of abrupt environmental effects of warming
By TONY BARBOZA
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2013 Updated 3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — Scientists sounded alarms Tuesday with a pair of studies challenging the idea that climate change is occurring gradually over the century and that its worst effects can be avoided by keeping emissions below a critical threshold.

A National Research Council report says the planet is warming so quickly that the world should expect abrupt and unpredictable consequences in a matter of years or a few decades. Among the changes already underway are the sudden decline in Arctic sea ice as well as climbing extinction rates, the report found.

Scientists based their findings, in part, on the study of climate history as recorded in tree rings, ocean sediment and ice cores. They found the timeline punctuated by big, sudden changes, including ocean circulation shifts and mass extinctions.

As a result of the burning of fossil fuels, industrial activity and deforestation, the amount of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has soared to levels not seen in millions of years, with global temperatures rising by about 1.5 degrees. The scientists say the accelerating gas levels increase the risk of reaching various "tipping points," leaving nature and society little time to react.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/12/03/210459/studies-warn-of-abrupt-environmental.html#storylink=cpy

[Oscarmonster13]

1. well..

i have believed for years that the models were 'off' and it was gonna feedback faster than they can figure out...


that doesn't mean I'm not saying "fuckfuckfuck!" what a time time be living in, eh?

[Voice for Peace]

2. gulp

[Javaman]

10. Put that candle out! it's releasing carbon!

I kid, I kid.

we are in deep doo doo.

[newfie11]

3. What is it with the oil, coal companies

There are people making decision that are destroying the earth.
Hope they and their kids enjoy their money before we all flush down the toilet!

[GliderGuider]

16. Well, one problem is that their customers insist on buying the stuff.

You know, 7.1 billion people like you and me?

[ReRe]

4. Well, we're gonners then....

... because the only thing this country reacts quickly to is some dreamed-up military conflict somewhere on the other side of the planet.

[dreamnightwind]

5. Maybe we could reframe the problem

as a military threat? Ridiculous but it might connect with the powers that be. Atmospheric CO2 and methane = terrorists, evil-doers.

I like your Norman Goldman tagline, listen to him pretty often.

[ReRe]

6. Hey...

... the keystone cops just might fall for that idea.

As for NorMAN GoldMAN. I've listened to many a online radio show, but have dwindled them down to Norm and Ed.

[dreamnightwind]

8. I am actually at least half-serious

The climate change issue, early on, was embraced by leftists and environmentalists. Thus it became a tree-hugger issue (proud tree-hugger myself) to be opposed by the right wing. Which is tragic.

If we could reframe the issue in a way that they relate to, we could suddenly have the entire national and corporate machinery working to defeat climate change as the global enemy that it truly is. Especially if there was a profit to be made from it.

It should be done for the right reasons, but we've been there and we're not getting anywhere in this battle. So time to find a way to get the rest of the people on board.

[jwirr]

11. I think that our defense industry - military, CIA, etc. have actually done their own studies already

to what ends I do not know.

[Ghost Dog]

7. They WILL impose Martial Law, in the USA and elsewhere, soon enough,

I predict, due to these interlinked environmental as well as socio-economic pressures.

[Celefin]

9. The warnings won't change much... even if they were heard.

Below is a graph showing by how much CO2 emissions would have to be curbed annually to stay under the 'safe' 2C target. The amount depends on when the by then necessary annual reductions begin, in this case 2011, 2015 or 2020.



Anyone willing to bet we'll reduce our CO2 emissions by over 5% annually starting 2 years from now?
The graph is from 2009 - when the simulations were giving much more conservative results regarding the speed of warming and the effect of tipping points.

The new game in town is climate change adaptation as it is way past time to seriously work on mitigation. But policy initiatives regarding adaptation are even sparser than for mitigation.

For a superbly condensed 50-page slide show on the human effects on the earth system (with tons of references) where this graph features:
The Anthropocene: From hunter-gatherers to a global geophysical force
By Will Steffen
Executive Director, The ANU Climate Change Institute, The Australian National University

All really old news actually. *sigh*

[KurtNYC]

14. Yes adaptation is the new goal.

"Eco-friendly" was just a marketing gimmick to make people buying SUVs feel better (if they wanted to) -- hybrid SUVs.

Insurance companies have stop insuring coastal developments. Category 5 hurricanes are doubling in frequency to 28 per decade (almost 3 every year). Hydroponics, aquaponics and other new agriculture on the rise as the weather becomes less stable.

On the flip side, the birth rate in the world's most CO2-emitting countries has dropped below replacement and China is now in year 34 of their "one child policy" which has averted more than 200 million births.

Thanks for sharing that link, interesting stuff.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. You don't need a study.

You just need to look around.

Doesn't take a scientific expert to tell there things seriously amiss out there.

I'm glad I live in the Midwest. Looks like about the safest place to be. No oceans.

[Blue_Tires]

15. The problem is too many anti-science clowns in positions of power...

and people whose paycheck is dependent on playing dumb...

[bemildred]

13. Yep. It's happening, climate is a chaotic system.

Nobody really knows what it will do, but it won't be stabilized any quicker than it was destabilized, and it will probably take much longer.